Captive Tawny Frogmouths Exhibit Similar Body Temperature Patterns as Wild Individuals

Abstract

<p>Free-ranging tawny frogmouths (<i>Podargus strigoides</i>) typically defend body temperature (<i>T_b</i>) between 38 and 40◦C during activity and allow it to fall to 29◦C during cold evenings. However, this pattern of nightly <i>T_b</i> decline has not been elicited in captivity during shortterm respirometry measurements. We used implanted <i>T_b</i> loggers to record the <i>T_b</i> of two captive tawny frogmouths from 24 September to 24 December 2019 to determine if the conditions in captivity would elicit similar <i>T_b</i> patterns to those measured in the wild. We recorded an average <i>T_b</i> of 34.8 ± 1.1 and 35.6 ± 1.0◦C for the two birds and minimum <i>T_b</i> of 31.0 and 32.0◦C. Minimum daily <i>T_b</i> was correlated between the two individuals, and the minimum <i>T_b</i> of both individuals was correlated with minimum daily Ta. Our results highlight the need to keep birds under appropriate captive conditions to perform physiological research that produces results which mirror responses by individuals in the wild.</p>